Hackensack towing firm got thousands in city jobs while using city land as junkyard

By HANNAN ADELY

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

HACKENSACK — A towing company that officials said illegally put a junkyard on city property and has not paid rent in 12 years has been getting thousands of dollars in city business each year.

The city has paid Polifly Towing $20,613 in the past three years as one of seven companies on a city-approved list of towing companies that move illegally parked vehicles for the Hackensack Police Department.

What's not clear is why several businesses including Polifly were allowed to use city property that fronts on Green Street rent-free for years. City officials said they cannot pinpoint any reason for the failure to bill the businesses or enforce codes, but they claim the Green Street mix-up was part of pattern of spotty bookkeeping and billing in the previous administration.

City Council members said they learned of problems along Green Street after taking office in July and asked Anthony Rottino, the economic development director and interim city manager, to investigate. Rottino found that over 12 years, five businesses had used city lots along Green Street without paying rent since 2002. He said he could not find a lease for the use of that land.

The last lease that city officials could find for Polifly Towing was a one-year deal in 2002, when the business paid about $900 a year for rent, said Councilwoman Kathy Canestrino.

City officials said they did not know how much they had lost in rent payments over the years, but when they opened a public bid on the combined Green Street lots in January, the minimum bid was set at $5,000 a month in rent. Three companies submitted bids, but officials said they canceled the bid and would put out a request for proposals for that land at a later time after evictions were complete.

Three of the businesses were still using city land when the new council took over last summer, Canestrino said. Two were using a narrow paved corner lot with about 10 parking spots, including Bobby's Corner Deli Restaurant. The lot currently has no signage, but cars still park there.

The owner of Bobby's Corner said she asked for but never got a renewed lease. "I asked and they pay no attention to us," said Sulma Serrano, saying she cleaned the lot and planted flowers.

A large portion of the city lots along Green Street is used as a fenced-in junkyard by Polifly, which has towed and stored vehicles there, including vehicles towed for the city. Since July 19, Hackensack has issued seven citations to Polifly Towing; six were for creating a junkyard on city property and one was for keeping city property in unsafe condition.

Russ Paladino, the owner of Polifly Towing, declined to comment about the situation. He said he was waiting for his new lawyer to put together the facts before he could comment. Lawyer Vincent Trovini, a former Hackensack municipal judge, could not be reached Thursday afternoon.

Polifly was taken to municipal court March 26 to respond to violations but got a 30-day extension because of a change in attorney. The company is among seven that are on an approved list to do business with the city.

The mayor and council approve the list every year for companies that get a towing license from the city at a cost of $500 a year. The towing operator has to be "in good standing" under city rules and have adequate storage facilities in the city. The city provides towing business to providers "on an equal and rotating basis."

Polifly was paid $7,110 in 2013; $3,325 in 2012; and $10,179 in 2011.

Rottino asked police last week to stop using Polifly because of the outstanding violations. The city attorney also sent a letter to Polifly last month asking that they clear off the city lot by April 11. If the company does not leave, city officials said they will file for eviction in Superior Court.

Hackensack towing firm got thousands in city jobs while using city land as junkyard

By HANNAN ADELY

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

HACKENSACK — A towing company that officials said illegally put a junkyard on city property and has not paid rent in 12 years has been getting thousands of dollars in city business each year.

The city has paid Polifly Towing $20,613 in the past three years as one of seven companies on a city-approved list of towing companies that move illegally parked vehicles for the Hackensack Police Department.

What's not clear is why several businesses including Polifly were allowed to use city property that fronts on Green Street rent-free for years. City officials said they cannot pinpoint any reason for the failure to bill the businesses or enforce codes, but they claim the Green Street mix-up was part of pattern of spotty bookkeeping and billing in the previous administration.

City Council members said they learned of problems along Green Street after taking office in July and asked Anthony Rottino, the economic development director and interim city manager, to investigate. Rottino found that over 12 years, five businesses had used city lots along Green Street without paying rent since 2002. He said he could not find a lease for the use of that land.

The last lease that city officials could find for Polifly Towing was a one-year deal in 2002, when the business paid about $900 a year for rent, said Councilwoman Kathy Canestrino.

City officials said they did not know how much they had lost in rent payments over the years, but when they opened a public bid on the combined Green Street lots in January, the minimum bid was set at $5,000 a month in rent. Three companies submitted bids, but officials said they canceled the bid and would put out a request for proposals for that land at a later time after evictions were complete.

Three of the businesses were still using city land when the new council took over last summer, Canestrino said. Two were using a narrow paved corner lot with about 10 parking spots, including Bobby's Corner Deli Restaurant. The lot currently has no signage, but cars still park there.

The owner of Bobby's Corner said she asked for but never got a renewed lease. "I asked and they pay no attention to us," said Sulma Serrano, saying she cleaned the lot and planted flowers.

A large portion of the city lots along Green Street is used as a fenced-in junkyard by Polifly, which has towed and stored vehicles there, including vehicles towed for the city. Since July 19, Hackensack has issued seven citations to Polifly Towing; six were for creating a junkyard on city property and one was for keeping city property in unsafe condition.

Russ Paladino, the owner of Polifly Towing, declined to comment about the situation. He said he was waiting for his new lawyer to put together the facts before he could comment. Lawyer Vincent Trovini, a former Hackensack municipal judge, could not be reached Thursday afternoon.

Polifly was taken to municipal court March 26 to respond to violations but got a 30-day extension because of a change in attorney. The company is among seven that are on an approved list to do business with the city.

The mayor and council approve the list every year for companies that get a towing license from the city at a cost of $500 a year. The towing operator has to be "in good standing" under city rules and have adequate storage facilities in the city. The city provides towing business to providers "on an equal and rotating basis."

Polifly was paid $7,110 in 2013; $3,325 in 2012; and $10,179 in 2011.

Rottino asked police last week to stop using Polifly because of the outstanding violations. The city attorney also sent a letter to Polifly last month asking that they clear off the city lot by April 11. If the company does not leave, city officials said they will file for eviction in Superior Court.